Helen Waterhouse Papers, 1930-1964

Inventory of the
Helen Waterhouse Papers,
1930-1964
Record Group Number: 99/85
The University of Akron
University Libraries
Archival Services
Polsky Building, LL10
Akron, Ohio 44325-1702
330-972-7670 (Phone)
330-972-6170 (Fax)
http://www.uakron.edu/libraries/archivesRG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 2
Descriptive Summary
Title: Helen Waterhouse Papers, 1930-1964
Accession No: N/A
Record Group No.: 99/85
Creator: Helen Waterhouse
Extent: .66 Cubic feet
Abstract: Helen Waterhouse (1893-1965) was a journalist in Akron,
Ohio who wrote numerous articles and many front page stories covering some of the most important topics of the day for the Akron Beacon Journal for almost 40 years. Her papers contain correspondence and a selection of her published articles in addition to reports from the Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association and National Federation of Press Women.
Administrative Information
Provenance: Unknown
Preferred Citation: [Identification of Item], Helen Waterhouse Papers, Archival
Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron,
Ohio
Restrictions: No restrictions on access; except not available through
interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply.
Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this
collection must be secured in writing from Archival
Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.
Processed by: Archives staff; re-housed by student assistant Chelsi King
and finding aid updated by Mark Bloom, 2013
Historical Background
Helen Waterhouse was born in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1892 and received her education at the Boston Naval Art School and Fenway School of Illustration. She worked for the Springfield, Massachusetts Union and the Toronto, Canada Star Weekly. After moving to Akron, Ohio she became county correspondent for the Amherst Newspaper for two years. In 1925, John S. Knight, editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, asked Waterhouse to cover news at the Akron Art InstituteRG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 3
(now the Akron Art Museum). By 1928 she became a full-time reporter for the newspaper while her husband Ralph served as superintendent of the Akron Public Schools from 1934 to 1942. In 1940, the marriage ended in divorce.
Helen Waterhouse’s career was impressive. She entered numerous contests and sent photographs and clippings to the Ohio Newspaper Women’s Association and the Ohio Federation of Press Women. Her stories placed first on 57 occasions as well as second, third, and honorable mention 41 separate times. In 1950 she was named “Ohio Newspaper Woman for the Year” by the National Federation and in 1957 and 1958 she was named “Press Woman of Achievement.”
Waterhouse’s stories covered a wide range of topics, from the Hindenburg disaster to the Lindbergh kidnapping, from World War II heroism to articles about Russian culture during the 1950s. She frequently travelled abroad gathering stories from as far away as Korea, Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, Manila, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. She also went to Yugoslavia to cover the trial of Dragoljub “Draža” Mihailović (1893-1946), a Yugoslav Serb general during World War II who organized a band of guerrillas known as the Chetniks after the Germans overran Yugoslavia in 1941.
On the local level, Waterhouse became a friend of Sam Shepard while he was on trial for murdering his wife in Bay Village. Her most famous story was her series on Clarence Hathaway, the son of a blind and deaf couple. The Akron Welfare Agency was trying to take their son away, but all of the negative press that Helen provided and the supporting public reaction helped influence the judge to let them keep their child. The journalist had made the Hathaway Family friends with all of Akron and received the coveted TV “Big Story” Award in 1955 for the series.
In 1965, Helen Waterhouse died in an automobile accident in Akron, presumably after a heart attack, at the age of 72. The journalist was known for possessing a keen sense of revealing news, getting at the sources, acquiring interviews, prying for information, and getting close to people.
Scope and Content
The Helen Waterhouse Papers contain material relating to her career as a journalist, including a selection of her published articles in newspapers and journals. It also includes correspondence, which consists of personal and professional letters, incoming and outgoing, dating from November 1951 to February 1964. Included are reports from the Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association and the National Federation of Press Women, both organizations to which Waterhouse was a member. The newspaper features contain Helen Waterhouse’s “Big Story,” the Russian series and other features from 1930 to 1964. Also included are features and awards, drafts of articles and series of articles, as well as personal mementos, memorabilia, and photographs of Waterhouse with friends and co-workers. The Helen Waterhouse Papers would be of value to a researcher interested in local journalism, Waterhouse’s career, and the nature of her news features.RG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 4
Related Material
John S. Knight Papers
Herman and Hazel Fetzer Papers
Index Terms
Waterhouse, Helen 1892-1965
Women Journalists—Ohio--Akron
Akron Beacon Journal
Container List
BOX 1
Folder Contents
1 General Correspondence, November 1951-November 1956
2 General Correspondence, January 1957-December 1958
3 General Correspondence, January 1959-February 1964
4 General Correspondence, June 1955-December 26, 1960, incomplete telegrams
5 Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association Contests, 1956-1963
6 National Federation of Press Women, June 1949-March 1964
7 Hathaway Story—Blind and Deaf Couple, June 1955-February 1961
8 Kirk, Dr. Paul Leland—Affidavit, Sam Shepard Murder Case, October 1954-1955
9 Newspaper Articles—Russia, June 1956-November 1958
10 Newspaper Articles—Waterhouse, 1930-1956
11 Newspaper Clippings—Waterhouse Articles, 1957-1964
12 Newspaper Articles—Oversized, June 1949-January 1961
13 Newspapers, October 1955-October 1962
14 Publications, May 1951-March 1962
15 Newspaper Articles—Features and Awards, October 25, 1946-October 16, 1961
BOX 2
Folder Contents
1 Drafts of Stories—Complete, January-July 1961
2 Russian Series—Complete Drafts, June 15, 1956-July 5, 1956
3 Russian Series—Complete Stories, Drafts, undated
4 Russia—Reports, Leaflets, December 1955-May 1958
5 Drafts of Stories—Incomplete, undated
6 Russian Series—Incomplete Drafts, undated
7 Drafts of Stories—Scrap Material, undated
8 Publications of Personal Interest, August 1946-April 1964RG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 5
9 Publications of Personal Interest, October 1931-October 1964
10 Programs, June 1950-March 1962
11 World Affairs, April 1951-March 1961
12 Travel Brochures, 1951-1961
13 Photographs, undated
14 Artifact, undated
15 Duplicates, September 1955-April 1965

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Inventory of the
Helen Waterhouse Papers,
1930-1964
Record Group Number: 99/85
The University of Akron
University Libraries
Archival Services
Polsky Building, LL10
Akron, Ohio 44325-1702
330-972-7670 (Phone)
330-972-6170 (Fax)
http://www.uakron.edu/libraries/archivesRG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 2
Descriptive Summary
Title: Helen Waterhouse Papers, 1930-1964
Accession No: N/A
Record Group No.: 99/85
Creator: Helen Waterhouse
Extent: .66 Cubic feet
Abstract: Helen Waterhouse (1893-1965) was a journalist in Akron,
Ohio who wrote numerous articles and many front page stories covering some of the most important topics of the day for the Akron Beacon Journal for almost 40 years. Her papers contain correspondence and a selection of her published articles in addition to reports from the Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association and National Federation of Press Women.
Administrative Information
Provenance: Unknown
Preferred Citation: [Identification of Item], Helen Waterhouse Papers, Archival
Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron,
Ohio
Restrictions: No restrictions on access; except not available through
interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply.
Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this
collection must be secured in writing from Archival
Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.
Processed by: Archives staff; re-housed by student assistant Chelsi King
and finding aid updated by Mark Bloom, 2013
Historical Background
Helen Waterhouse was born in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1892 and received her education at the Boston Naval Art School and Fenway School of Illustration. She worked for the Springfield, Massachusetts Union and the Toronto, Canada Star Weekly. After moving to Akron, Ohio she became county correspondent for the Amherst Newspaper for two years. In 1925, John S. Knight, editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, asked Waterhouse to cover news at the Akron Art InstituteRG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 3
(now the Akron Art Museum). By 1928 she became a full-time reporter for the newspaper while her husband Ralph served as superintendent of the Akron Public Schools from 1934 to 1942. In 1940, the marriage ended in divorce.
Helen Waterhouse’s career was impressive. She entered numerous contests and sent photographs and clippings to the Ohio Newspaper Women’s Association and the Ohio Federation of Press Women. Her stories placed first on 57 occasions as well as second, third, and honorable mention 41 separate times. In 1950 she was named “Ohio Newspaper Woman for the Year” by the National Federation and in 1957 and 1958 she was named “Press Woman of Achievement.”
Waterhouse’s stories covered a wide range of topics, from the Hindenburg disaster to the Lindbergh kidnapping, from World War II heroism to articles about Russian culture during the 1950s. She frequently travelled abroad gathering stories from as far away as Korea, Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, Manila, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. She also went to Yugoslavia to cover the trial of Dragoljub “Draža” Mihailović (1893-1946), a Yugoslav Serb general during World War II who organized a band of guerrillas known as the Chetniks after the Germans overran Yugoslavia in 1941.
On the local level, Waterhouse became a friend of Sam Shepard while he was on trial for murdering his wife in Bay Village. Her most famous story was her series on Clarence Hathaway, the son of a blind and deaf couple. The Akron Welfare Agency was trying to take their son away, but all of the negative press that Helen provided and the supporting public reaction helped influence the judge to let them keep their child. The journalist had made the Hathaway Family friends with all of Akron and received the coveted TV “Big Story” Award in 1955 for the series.
In 1965, Helen Waterhouse died in an automobile accident in Akron, presumably after a heart attack, at the age of 72. The journalist was known for possessing a keen sense of revealing news, getting at the sources, acquiring interviews, prying for information, and getting close to people.
Scope and Content
The Helen Waterhouse Papers contain material relating to her career as a journalist, including a selection of her published articles in newspapers and journals. It also includes correspondence, which consists of personal and professional letters, incoming and outgoing, dating from November 1951 to February 1964. Included are reports from the Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association and the National Federation of Press Women, both organizations to which Waterhouse was a member. The newspaper features contain Helen Waterhouse’s “Big Story,” the Russian series and other features from 1930 to 1964. Also included are features and awards, drafts of articles and series of articles, as well as personal mementos, memorabilia, and photographs of Waterhouse with friends and co-workers. The Helen Waterhouse Papers would be of value to a researcher interested in local journalism, Waterhouse’s career, and the nature of her news features.RG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 4
Related Material
John S. Knight Papers
Herman and Hazel Fetzer Papers
Index Terms
Waterhouse, Helen 1892-1965
Women Journalists—Ohio--Akron
Akron Beacon Journal
Container List
BOX 1
Folder Contents
1 General Correspondence, November 1951-November 1956
2 General Correspondence, January 1957-December 1958
3 General Correspondence, January 1959-February 1964
4 General Correspondence, June 1955-December 26, 1960, incomplete telegrams
5 Ohio Newspaper Woman’s Association Contests, 1956-1963
6 National Federation of Press Women, June 1949-March 1964
7 Hathaway Story—Blind and Deaf Couple, June 1955-February 1961
8 Kirk, Dr. Paul Leland—Affidavit, Sam Shepard Murder Case, October 1954-1955
9 Newspaper Articles—Russia, June 1956-November 1958
10 Newspaper Articles—Waterhouse, 1930-1956
11 Newspaper Clippings—Waterhouse Articles, 1957-1964
12 Newspaper Articles—Oversized, June 1949-January 1961
13 Newspapers, October 1955-October 1962
14 Publications, May 1951-March 1962
15 Newspaper Articles—Features and Awards, October 25, 1946-October 16, 1961
BOX 2
Folder Contents
1 Drafts of Stories—Complete, January-July 1961
2 Russian Series—Complete Drafts, June 15, 1956-July 5, 1956
3 Russian Series—Complete Stories, Drafts, undated
4 Russia—Reports, Leaflets, December 1955-May 1958
5 Drafts of Stories—Incomplete, undated
6 Russian Series—Incomplete Drafts, undated
7 Drafts of Stories—Scrap Material, undated
8 Publications of Personal Interest, August 1946-April 1964RG 99/85 Helen Waterhouse Papers 5
9 Publications of Personal Interest, October 1931-October 1964
10 Programs, June 1950-March 1962
11 World Affairs, April 1951-March 1961
12 Travel Brochures, 1951-1961
13 Photographs, undated
14 Artifact, undated
15 Duplicates, September 1955-April 1965